Help the Handler, Help the Dog

HERE'S A GOOD REASON TO WAG YOUR TAIL:
We have decided to extend the Early Bird deadline for Suzanne Clothier's upcoming November seminar!

This is one you won;t want to miss. With topics covering a wide range; there's bound to be a specific gem in here for everyone!

Not to worry: even if you've been away for vacation at the old cottage and missed the Early Bird --- not to worry: it's been extended! You have all of August to get your registration in -- WITH Early Bird Fees! 

The seminar will run over the whole Remembrance Day weekend: November 9-11, 2013 and will be held at Sit Happens! Companion Dog Training in Calgary, AB. 

So, what will Suzanne cover in November?

Starting with The Elemental Questions (TM)

...if you attended her seminar in Calgary just months ago in April, you know what profound meaning one of the questions bear; asking the dog: "How is this for you?" Well, this time, she'll delve even further as she will continue and teach us more of these, six in total, Elemental Questions.

Help the Handler, Help the Dog 

will do a dive into how handlers help or hinder dogs with body language, posture, breathing, muscle tension, expression, stance and use of space. I know I personally hear many people know and comment on the fact that "it's not the dog that needs to be trained - it's me!" - well, here is an amazing opportunity to learn about how you, as a person may be able to sharpen up your communication by understanding how you influence your dog with your body and your being.

You had me at Sniff is a whole day on the very hot topic of dog-to-dog interactions. 

When putting two or more dogs together: are we being too cautious? Too careless? Do we just "let them work it out"? or try to orchestrate pleasant encounters? What is play and what is not play? How do you recognize a suitable playmate? etc etc...

Herder, Helper, Hunter, Hugger

promises to be a Very Fascinating seminar-topic, dissecting the different myths and realities about different breeds, and breed specific behaviours and preferences that have been affected by human selection in our dogs. Guarding and territorial behaviour, low dog-dog aggression breeds, toy breeds, understanding the working dog, controlling space: the herding breeds, why and why not? the "hard to train" dogs...

The Relationship Puzzle: Cooperation, Conflict and Compatibility

"Relationship" is a popular concept these days, but what does it really mean? How do you know if there is a match or a mis-match? Can you recognize the patterns of interaction that tell the tale? How do you identify the foundation issues that may be underlying conflict and training problems? 























So: to wrap up: You can sign up with Early Bird Rates all the way through the month of August. Please help and share the word about this seminar. Suzanne Clothier is an AMAZING teacher and we truly believe each and every person learning from her will benefit the dog world as a whole. 

Registration info is available here.
Please take note of Scholarships available: if you know of a dog enthusiast TEENAGER - get them in touch with Annette to find out requirements to apply. 
Also available: SAR/ Search and Rescue dog- scholarships.

Wags has hosted Suzanne twice in past - What have past participants said about Suzanne? 

"Loved it all!! Especially impressed with pacing: Powerpoint, dog examples, questions, interactive…using leashes together. Nice variety. Suzanne is amazingly informative, knowledgeable, entertaining and made the information clear!"

"My favourite part of the whole weekend was "How is this for you?" Dogs don't lie!"

"The Information overall was Fantastic. Very helpful organizers and staff."

"Favourite part was the Observation Skills taught: Learning to ask the Questions, and to listen to the dog's answers!"

"Suzanne is incredible knowledgeable. And she's got a great way to share her information - great analogies and humour - and great patience :-)"



Finally - check out Sit Happens! - our venue as well as Mungo's Books - our favourite source for dog books .Mungo's will again be present and looking after everyone's shopping needs and desires before start each day and during breaks and lunches.

Please just ask/ email or comment below if you have questions. Hope to hear from you and see you in November!!!

Favourite quotes by Suzanne Clothier

This past weekend was spent in the company of Greatness. Wags unlimited had the great pleasure of hosting Suzanne Clothier for a second time; she was here (in Calgary, Alberta at Sit Happens!) in November 2012 and back now again April 13-14, 2013.

As a new addition and a small side-game for the seminar participants, we asked people to post favourite quotes to Wags' facebook page/  things that Suzanne said that either made them laugh or think and reflect, or both. I will share some of the highlights of the more Reflective kind of quotes here. Words of Wisdom, shared by Suzanne Clothier:
"The real thing is....does the dog choose to?"

"We are looking for the edge of the iceberg."

"Look at the sensitivity of the animal."

"Identify the moment of decision."

"Time the treats so that it's clear."

"She's not getting away with anything, she's doing exactly what she thinks the rules are."

"Is the handler being reactive to dog behaviour or pro-active?"

"Hysteria is not Drive."

"He's just doing it with tremendous power and at great speed. That's not drive, it's crazy amounts of arousal."

"Adolescent dogs are trying to mess with your head.

Like Tax Attorneys, if they can see a loophole, they'll drive at truck through it."

"Goal number one, help him feel Safe."
"Genes are like toothpaste. Leave the cap off & push down& something comes out."

"Muttle through it! Sometimes it's the best you have that  day."

"If this dog had a cell phone, she would let it go to voicemail. She would not answer! Your dogs should not let you go to voicemail."

"The norm is not necessarily normal."
"Keep the light in their eyes."

"How is this for you?"

"There is no Good or Bad, I'm just looking to see how each puppy handles it."

"Individual socialization matters a great deal."

"The dogs are always telling you what their truth is."

***comments made by participants:

"Suzanne Clothier is a genius and funny to boot. If you were to take ONE class about dogs, our relationship to them, and how to train them, pick Suzanne. What a fun, and informative day!" shared after Day 1 on Facebook by Sherri Olsen.

"What an awesome fun filled insightful weekend with Suzanne. Thank you Wags for hosting a great seminar. Could not think of a better way to spend a nasty weather weekend. Look forward to attending further seminars with Suzanne in the time to come." shared by Cindy Maynes.

This is a good time to mention that Suzanne is coming back to Calgary Nov 9-11, 2013. Registration is open and there is a "Seminar Special" in effect for Super Early Birds who register before May 15, 2013. Save up to $80 on your registration! Send Annette a note here to get the registration package sent to you.

Suzanne Clothier is coming back to Calgary in April 2013

Registrations are open and Early Bird Fees are in effect until February 1st 2013. Wags unlimited is Proud to be hosting Suzanne Clothier again as she is coming back to do another seminar for us April 13-14, 2013. (Held at Sit Happens! in Calgary, Alberta)
This will be a fantastic weekend for anyone interested in taking their dog-reading ability to the next level. Full registration info can be found here.

Saturday April 13th 9am-5pm: Observation Skills
A day of Exercises that build observation skills for appreciating & entering the "umwelt" (an animal's perception of its world), reading body language on a detailed and whole body basis. These skills will focus on the dog's sensory input, external body language, understanding breathing, use of space, orientation, geometry, tension & more.  With this information, you will improve your observation skills; learn how to really see instead of just looking, and how to watch fine and subtle details from the dogs. 

Sunday April 14th 9am - 5pm: Arousal, Brakes and Steering.
Do you struggle with a dog who seems to be part rocket and part rock-head? Is your dog is ready to conquer his next title? Or does he worry about the dog next door?  Do you wish you knew how to keep your dog in the Think & Learn zone?  Wonder how your dog can tell you when things are “just right” or beginning to be “not so good”? Wonder how to keep the drive and enthusiasm but also have some brakes and steering? (*pls see demo dog info blow)

Many dog owners and all trainers struggle with the wide range of training and behavior issues that have their origin in arousal, sensory stimulation and reactivity. Whether you’re an owner of one of these dogs, an old pro or a new trainer, you and your dog will benefit from Suzanne Clothier’s  approach to understanding arousal, reactivity, behavior and performance, how dogs think & learn (or don’t!) when aroused, perfect performance vs. perfect train wreck, and how to help your dog be the best they can be. Her Relationship Centered Approach is sensible, humane and effective. Topics covered are, for example:  The physiology of arousal (understanding ANS (sympathetic, parasympathetic & enteric), chronic stress & the damage it can do, productive & non-productive arousal, fear & anxiety & their effects on learning.

The Elemental Questions (tm) The dog and his world, Sensory input & sensory sorting

The Think & Learn zone (tm) (why your dog needs to be in this zone, how to see when he’s leaving the zone & how to get him back, understanding the Stimulus Gradient)

What the dog can tell you (how observable behaviors reflect physiological changes, the power of volitional posture shifts)

Putting it all together (Promoting, provoking or preventing – handler contributions, Being the best handler & team-mate for your dog)

 “Say Hi 1-2-3 Greetings” / dog-dog greetings will also be covered during this day. (*)

Saturday Evening Lecture 7-9.30pm: 
From Maddening to Maturity: Understanding & Helping the Adolescent Dog

Do you wonder where your once wonderful puppy went? And why has he turned into a sometimes maddening, unpredictable, maybe even out of control adolescent? Relax – you’re not alone. “Teenage” dogs are everywhere, and sometimes, driving their owners crazy. For many dog owners, the 2-3 year long period of adolescence is problematic. Sadly, a majority of dogs are no longer with their original owners by time they are 1 year old.

This evening lecture will help you better understand what adolescence means for your dog, for you, and for your relationship. Even with a great start in puppyhood – classes, socialization, play dates, training – many dogs hit adolescence and become frustrating, unruly.

While puzzling to many owners, this is a natural progression.

• Did you know that adolescence begins around 20 weeks of age?

• That a year old dog is roughly the equivalent of a 14 year human?

• That adulthood in the dog begins at 2-4 years of age?

• That the most annoying teenage dogs are usually geniuses?

The lecture will help you

• understand why angels pups become annoying adolescents

• recognize the warning signs that you need to make changes

• how to use effective, humane RCT techniques to rebalance the relationship

• avoid raising a “trust fund baby”

• guide your dog safely through teenage years into marvelous maturity!

When you understand your adolescent dog better, you can settle into the work and joys of helping them grow into a wonderful adult dog. The kind of adult dog that makes people say, “Oh, I wish I had a dog like that!” while you smile and wonder if they knew him as a teenager.

Don`t Miss the Early Bird! GO TO THE REGISTRATION INFO NOW

Wags is Hosting Suzanne Clothier for November 3-5, 2012 seminar

Wags is extremely proud to announce - Suzanne Clothier will be in Calgary, ALBERTA Nov 3-5, 2012 for three days packed with Education. Here are details about this fantastic opportunity.


Suzanne is an internationally recognized dog trainer and award winning author. A dog’s lovers’ “must read” is her highly regarded book Bones would Rain from the Sky: Deepening our Relationships with Dogs. She has served as a consultant to Guiding Eyes for the Blind, one of the world's largest guide dog schools. Her Relationship Centered Training (RCT) philosophy served as the structure for updating GEB's puppy raising program. She is a German Shepherd breeder for 24+ years; her Hawks Hunt German Shepherds have been successful in many dog sports as well as therapy work. Suzanne has a deep background of experience that includes obedience, agility, puppy testing, breeding, search and rescue, conformation, instructing, kennel management and canine midwifery. She is well respected for her holistic, relationship based approach to dogs and the people that love them. Whether the audience is companion dog owners or experienced trainers and professionals, Suzanne's broad knowledge, common sense and humor offer exciting, practical information and approaches that will enhance the dog/human relationship.

in Calgary, Alberta November 3-5, 2012.

This is Suzanne’s Only Appearance in Canada in 2012!

This will be an intense and educational three days with opportunities to participate and learn: Saturday And Sunday workshop focusing on Problem solving for Reactive dogs, a Saturday evening lecture on Puppies and a day of private consultations with Suzanne, with auditors welcome; all wonderful opportunities to learn from Suzanne Clothier, develop an understanding for her RCT approach (Relationship Centered Training), get insights into problem solving, hear her speak and see her work with people and their dogs!

Have you read her book?  Can’t wait to PARTICIPATE in a seminar to learn more?! Here’s your chance!

CEUs for Certified Professional Dog Trainers (CPDT) pending.

Proudly hosted by: Wags unlimited/ Annette Young, CPDT-KA

Seminar location: Sit Happens! Companion Dog Training. 16 – 2333 - 18 Ave NE, Calgary, AB, T2E 8T6

SEMINAR TOPICS:

Saturday Nov 3^rd AND Sunday Nov 4^th - 2 Day Workshop.  

9 am - 5 pm each day. 

An RCT Approach to working with REACTIVE DOGS

Using seminar participants’ dogs that are pre-selected as case-histories, this two-day seminar focuses on understanding canine behavior, the nature of fear & anxiety, understanding aggression (including bite etiology).  The role of stress, arousal, resilience and environmental factors are discussed. Attendees will learn the specific RCT techniques that are useful for fearful & reactive dogs:

• Treat/Retreat
• Use of the Stimulus Gradient
• The Auto Check-In
• In/Out of Safety Zones
• Intelligent Consequences
• Effects on dogs with changes in handler breathing, orientation, focus, and equipment choices
• Follow Me (as diagnostic & a “repair” exercise)
• Ghost Handling
• Go Hunt!

.

Saturday November 3^rd Evening lecture: 7 pm - 9.30 pm.

THE ENRICHED PUPPY

For breeders, shelters, rescues, and anyone interested in or already involved in raising puppies. This evening lecture offers practical ideas for environmental and social enrichment aimed at helping puppies become the best they can be. Detailed information will be offered on development of the puppy brain, body, reflexes and social behavior.
Suzanne has raised 7 generations of her Hawks Hunt German Shepherds, as well as litters of other breeds. Her approach to puppy raising has helped private breeders of several breeds raise “the best puppies ever!” Most notably, her ideas were put to the test and implemented by Guiding Eyes for the Blind, one of the world’s largest guide dog schools, producing approximately 450+ puppies each year.
Whether you love knowing more about helping puppies become the best they can be, wonder how to polish up the genetic material in your breeding program, or just love puppies, this is a fascinating evening full of puppies!

Monday Nov 5^th A day of Private Sessions: 8:30 am – 5.15 pm

EXTREMELY limited Individual private sessions with Suzanne 

(45-minutes each). 

Monday Nov 5^th Audit the Privates: 8:30 am – 5.15 pm

A fantastic opportunity to Audit a day of Suzanne's Private consultations!

Sit back, LISTEN, observe and learn from Suzanne Clothier working with clients in private sessions.

Auditors will have the opportunity to observe Suzanne work with people and their dogs for a full day of private consultations. The day will have a total of 10 private sessions (10 x 45 minutes). This day is geared toward the serious: instructors, trainers, behaviourists, veterinarians dealing with dog behavior, serious dog enthusiasts with a keen interest and desire in learning about the human-dog relationship. Here’s a great chance to get some insights into how Suzanne goes about working with people and their dogs! Participants will find great benefit in auditing these sessions and be able to watch Suzanne work hands on with a wide variety of people, dogs & issues. Priority will be given to participants who have also attended the Saturday and Sunday workshop.                                                                                               

Questions? looking for more information? 

INFO REGARDING SEMINAR: Annette Young, CPDT-KA

Email: youannette AT gmail DOT com  Web: www.wagsunlimited.com  Facebook: Wags unlimited

INFO ABOUT SUZANNE: www.suzanneclothier.com

GOOGLE MAP TO Sit Happens! Companion Dog Training, SEMINAR LOCATION: http://maps.google.ca/maps/place?q=google+maps+calgary+sit+happens+companion+dog&hl=en&cid=17781767303364890509

For  full seminar package, please send an email to the above address!   And please feel free to share with your dog-loving friends!